Emergency brake



March 4, E958 H. H, STIEBINGER v 2,825,428

EMERGENCY BRAKE Filed June 5, 1956 v "Wh IHM mill I ll

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, l z 5/ l l?. O /Z/'d/MJZ/@W ATTD RN EYS United States Patent 'fi EMERGENCY BRAKE Hibbard Henry Stebinger, San Pablo, Calif.

Application June 5, 1956, Serial No. 589,394

3 Claims. (Cl. 18S-162) This invention relates to a vehicle such as a truck or trailer, and more particularly to an emergency brake system for such a vehicle.

The object of the invention is to provide a brake assembly for a vehicle which will be automatically actuated in the event the regular brakes on the vehicle fail.

Another object of the invention is to provide an emergency brake assembly for use with vehicles of the type that use air brakes so that in the event that the brake system fails, the emergency brake of the present invention will be actuated so that the clutch can only be engaged to operate the emergency brake when the air system fails or when the Operator actuates the starter motor.

A further object of the invention is to provide an emergency brake system which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the emergency brake system, constructed according to the present invention, and with parts broken away and in section.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the emergency brake system of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral designates a portion of a vehicle chassis which may form part of a vehicle such as a truck or trailer, and the chassis 10 may include the usual beams 11 and 12 as well as the differential 13. The numeral 14 designates the wheel drums, while the numeral 15 designates the brake rods which are adapted to actuate the brakesV within the drums 14.

Extending transversely between the pair of beams 11 and 12 is a first shaft 16 which may be rotatably supported by means of bearings 17. There is further provided a second shaft 1S which is arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to the first shaft 16, and the shaft 18 has a reel 19 mounted thereon, Figure l. A cable 20 is trained over the reel 19 and is secured thereto, and one end of the cable 20 is connected to a lever 21. There are a pair of the levers 21, and the levers depend from the shaft 16 and are secured thereto. Cables 22 extend from the levers 21, and the cables 22 are connected to the brake rods 15.

There is further provided a housing which is indicated generally by the numeral 23, and the housing 23 is secured to one of the beams 11. The housing 23 is hollow, and a splined portion 24 of the shaft 18 is arranged within the housing 23, Figure 3. The splined portion 24 of the shaft 18 extends through clutch plates 25, and arranged in the housing 23 is a rotary disc or ilywheel 26.V The disc 26 is provided with a recess 27 which defines a shoulder 28, and the clutch plates Ii-atented Mar. 4, 1958 are adapted to move into and out of frictional engagement with the shoulder 28 on the disc 26.

Secured to the disc 26 in any suitable manner, as for example by means of securing elements 30 is a cap 29. Resilient means such as a coil spring 31 is interposed between the cap 29 and the clutch plates 25. The outer surface of the disc 26 is provided with teeth 31, and a shaft 32 has a worm 33 thereon, the Worm 33 meshing with the teeth 31. The shaft 32 is driven by a motor 34 which is arranged exteriorly of the housing 23. Wires 35 and 36 lead from the motor 34, and the wire 35 may be ground wire. The numeral 37 designates a source of electrical energy such as a battery which may be mounted in the vehicle, while the numeral 38 designates a manually operable switch which may be arranged in any convenient location such as on the dashboard of the vehicle being operated.

There is further provided an arm 41 which may be pivotally connected to the housing 23 through the medium of a pivot pin 42, and the arm 41 may extend through a cutout or opening 43 in the housing 23. The arm 41 carries a yoke 4u which is pivotally connected to a collar 39 that is mounted on the shaft 18.

Spaced from the housing 23 and secured to a beam, such as the beam 11, is a casing 44. A finger 45 extends transversely from an end of the arm 41 and the linger 45 is movably mounted in the casing 44. A head 46 is arranged on the inner end of the linger 45. A conduit 47 serves to connect the casing 44 to the air brake system of the vehicle.

Also arranged in the casing 44 is a box or container I 48 which is provided with an opening 49 therein whereby air can enter the container 4S through the openingV 49. A pair of contacts SG and 51 are mounted in the casing 44, and the contacts 5l) and 51 have electric wires or conductors extending therefrom. A plunger 52 is movably mounted in the box 4S, and the plunger 52 is mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the contacts 50 and 51. A coil spring 53 is positioned in the box 43, and the coil spring 53 abuts the plunger 52. Wires 54 and 55 lead from the contacts 50 and 51.

A movable sleeve 55 may be mounted on the shaft 18, and the sleeve 56 may abut links 57 which are pivotally connected to lugs 58 through the medium of pivot pins 59, Figure 3.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided an emergency brake which has a positive action and the present invention can be used on al1 trucks using air brakes and this will result in the saving of lives as well as personal property. Heretofore, there have been frequent serious accidents which might have been prevented if there had been provided a means for stopping the vehicle after the air brakes had failed. The present emergency brakes in use on vehicles have proven to be unsatisfactory and inadequate and the reason for this is as follows. A truck with a load of ten tons or more cannot'be halted by the use of a hand emergency brake as a general rule. In fact, this emergency hand brake will seldom hold a truck stationary, after the truck hasl connect the idler shaft 16 to the slack adjusters 15. The,

purpose of the idler shaft 16 is to distribute power equally to each wheel and additional cables may be used or connected to as many wheels as desired. The slack Y mounted on a trailer as Well as a truck,V n Y Y Y Thepresent invention issimple to operate and can Y Y be installed quickly and easily on existing vehicles. With .the present invention there is provided an emergency ananas.

adiustersfincluding the rodsv may beV conventional Y truck system isi-n normal Vworking pressure .or condition.

' The emergency brake will automatically go into opera-.

tion as. soon as the brake system fails VandV can berelea/sed onlyV when normal conditions in the system are restored.Y

Thus,rthe lu'tch platesr25 can only be actuated to operwhen the operator actuates; the starter'motor 34,V as for example through the medium of the manually operable switch :38. The arm 41 is -a clutch release Vvarm1wl1ich` serves to engage anddisengage the clutch during operat-ion. It is to be understood that these parts can be brake in the event of a failure in the air system, and also, by jmeans of the present'inyention, Vthe conventional hand brake on vehiclesrcan be eliminated. Furthermore,

i the present invention can be installed on automobiles which use a Vc'able'type of emergency brake.Y Y

Y In the: event'of avfail-ure in the brake system, the iinger Y45 and head 46 Will' move inwardly to the ,position shown in Eigure and. at the sameV time theV plunger Y 57,2v will be urged upwardly due to thecoil spring 53. Y This vvill complete-thelcircuit totheY` contacts 50 and 51 'soA thatfthe motor `34 willfbe energized whereby. the disc'26 v/ill he rotated through theY provision of the inter-V `meshingV gearsfi'lfh'en, the shaft. 18 will be frotated and this lwillturn therwinch 19 which will cause the cable 2,0 .tormove the idler shaft `16. Asrrthe Yidler shaft V1 6 is moved, the cables 22 will be moved to thereby actuate the rods-715150 that theV brakes in the wheel drums 14 Twill be'iatuated so that further movement Vof the vehicle wili'be prevented." .After the defect'has been repaired,

casing V44,'.the air p ressure'entering through the'aperture 49 willmove the plunger 52 toV compress the coil springV V53 so thatthe plunger 52 Will move away from the con.

tacts 50 andv Slfto therehyrdeenergize the motor 34.

(45 outvviardly from the position YVshown in' Figure Y3 soV that normal operation of the clutch 25V and its associated Vparts can'be broughtffahout. lf desired, the switch 38 can be manually actuated to'set the brakes as when the Y' Which serves to relieve the air pressure in the automaticVV vairele'ctric' switch. This port hole 49/ is necessary since 1 V1 .Y itinsures'tljat Vthe'diapljiragrn'can Work up and down Y ./freely .and quickly inforder torperrnit the .cylinder to The numeral"52gV designatesv a large heavyV dutyfcorn@VY '..prerssion springswhichY automatically makes Contact to Vate the emergency'hrake when the air system fails ory` `anrdrwhren pressure Vbuilds up in theYV conduit 47V` and'VY V4:5 At the .same time, the air pressure Vwill foreeihe finger Y resilient rnsanshnmnrisns csi! .springsrelaim; Y

l 1'. In. a vehicle brake system; in combinationwithg. wheel drums, `a rst shaft, `a pair of spacedr parallel levers extending from said shaft and secured theretoya second shaft Yarranged in spaced parallel relationfwith respect to said rfst shaft, a reel mounted on said second shaft and having a cable trained thereoverfsaid Vcable being connected tojone: -ofsaid levers, Vbrake rods' eX-ij tending into said wheel drums, a pair ofcables Vconnect-V ing said brake rods to said levers, a housing having ai disc rotatably arranged therein, a motorY arranged exfg l teriorly .of said housing, gear means connecting said motor to said disc, said disc including'a'recessY definingV a shoulder, a plurality of movable plates mounted'forYYY movement into and out of frictional engagementr-rwith said shoulder, said second shaft extending into said hous-V i ing and having `YaV splined portion engaging Vsaid plates, s'

an ann. pivntally Ycorlilecngd tn said Yhnnsing and havingVY n portion. engagingA Said second shaft; .sensing 'spaced Y from said housingfa conduitconnected td said casm a finger. extending. transversely from said arm. andrprcisstf ing` inw said casing, a .head on the inner end 0f. said 2 finger, n. cnntainnrarranged inv said casing and( including n. wan provided with an. Opening, a plunger rnnvnbly mounted'in said container, a pair'of'spaced parallel confacts mounted Yin. said casing and adanted t0 heen'gagsd f by said plunger; electric C nndnnting "wires leading frnrn said nontastsjto said meter and tn a source of. electricity; and resilient means arranged insad containerfand'ahuo.

ting. said plunger.A

2.'.The structure asidrefined Vinfclai'm whereinsaid4 nil extendingv .from said shaft and.V secured' thrsfdla:

shaft arranged in spaced Phfdlllrelationwith respect .to ,Y Y Said rst shaft, aired mounted. on. saidfsecnnd shaft 'and 'l having ka CableY trained theredverl said Cnhlefheing con nected to one of said levers, brake rods. extending into i 4said wheel drums, a pair 'nf sables' nnnec'tingsad'hrake' rods to said levers, a housing having aV disc rotatably arranged therein, a. nintnr..'arrangedV XteriOrlY' nf saidV housing, gear means connectingsaid motor to said disc, said disc including a. recess. dsning nV shoulder@y Ph.y rality of movable plates mounted for-'movement into andV out of frictionalV engagement with said shoulder-1.V said.

' second shaft extending into said housing .and'havingfa the eieetric poles in the event that the air pressureV dei i creases below'safe AWorking conditions; When theV air action Vfand Ydrivesrthe u nit. Thus the device is made Y .fr-V to operate automatic'ally.Y `VVCfthervvise,fthe brake rnecha-V Y' .nismrlwill be operated manually bynaztr'uck driver at any desired"pressuresv The present invention` is'V safeV to .use

since the brake is automatically'put intoac-tion in '.t-he

ifeventoffailure inthe vehicle-brake .sys/tenu i plunger, said Vresilient, means.. comprising a .coil sprin l said gear means C Ornprising gear teeth On Said/diss,r and Y 1a worm meshing with said gear. teeth and arisen by' snai..

Splined portion fmgngingl said Platesz an arm V.nivdially Y g Connected t0 said housing and having a portion lengaging Said 'sssnnd shaft, a casing spaced frnmfsaidfhonsngi a YConduitcnrlnssfnsi tosnid Casinggaingsr extending.

YaI-lsfefscly from Said grin and. projecting ntoisjgra can# ina n head 0n the inner end nf. VVsaid. finger;v n gnntainer larranged in said casing Vand including wall provided r Y withY an Opening. afnlnngermovahlv mounted' .S dY

sfintninsr,A spain hf. spaced narllslfcdntalcts mnlnntedin i said. 'Casing 'and adapted fn he engaged hvsaidnhlngnn,V

electrin ndndnting 'Wires lending frontYV said scntac 'snidrnstsr and. tern Ysnnrcs of electricity, .nndjfrssrh ni, 'Y

means arranged, ijn said. .container and. abutting Y.Said

motor.V g y References ited in .the fiile of this patent UNrTEn sTATEs VJPfirisrurs' Inbinatlcn .with 

